The Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca performed by all Muslims, following in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad. All able-bodied followers of Islam with financial means are expected to perform it once in their lifetime, during the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Here is an overview of the practices that constitute the last pillar of Islam.

Muslim pilgrims have been streaming into the holy city of Mecca ahead of the start of the Hajj, as the annual pilgrimage returns to its monumental scale. Saudi officials say more than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have already arrived in the country, with more expected to join them. Coupled with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims living in Saudi Arabia, officials estimate the number of pilgrims this year to exceed that of 2023, approaching pre-pandemic levels. The pilgrimage — one of the five pillars of Islam, and which all able-bodied Muslims with sufficient means are required to perform at least once in their lives — is scheduled between June 14 and June 19 this year. Those partaking in Hajj view the pilgrimage as an opportunity to strengthen their faith, wipe out old sins and start afresh. Here’s a look at how many pilgrims undertook the Hajj over the years.

Saudi Arabia has said that pilgrims can expect an average high temperature of 44°C (or 111 degrees Fahrenheit) in Mecca during the Hajj pilgrimage this month. "The expected climate for Hajj this year will witness an increase in average temperatures of one and a half to two degrees above normal in Mecca and Medina," National Meteorology Centre chief Ayman Ghulam said during a press conference on June 4. He noted that the forecast indicates "relative humidity of 25 percent, rain rates close to zero, and an average maximum temperature of 44 degrees." The Hajj, which begins on June 14, is one of Islam's five pillars and must be performed at least once by all Muslims who have the means to do so. Last year, more than 1.8 million Muslims took part in the Hajj, during which over 2,000 people suffered heat stress as temperatures soared to 48°C (or 118 degrees Fahrenheit), according to official Saudi figures. However, the actual number of heat stress cases — including heatstroke, exhaustion, cramps, and rashes — was likely much higher, as many sufferers were not admitted to hospitals or clinics. This year's Hajj is expected to be the last official summer Hajj in Saudi Arabia as the annual pilgrimage starts almost a fortnight earlier each year following Islamic Hijri lunar calendar, which lasts 354 days.

A record 2.5 million Muslims gathered at the Great Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, last Friday to mark the Night of Power, one of the holiest nights of Ramadan. At center is the Kaaba, a cuboid stone structure that Muslims believe to be the Bayt Allāh, or “House of God.” Ramadan, the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, concluded on Tuesday with Eid al-Fitr. 21.422500°, 39.826111° Image by Masjid Al Haram

Kaaba - 1880s. Ottoman Empire One of the rare photographs of Kaaba during Hajj. #mecca#mekkah #hajj

Bird's-eye view of Mecca with the Grand Mosque and shrine of Muhammad in the centre, by Carl Ponheimer (1803) ‘The Grand Mosque and Shrine of Muhammad in the centre’ - There is no shrine to the Prophet in Mekkah. Carl Ponheimer was ill-informed about Islam. It says a lot about European understanding of Islam, then and now as well. It might be an innocent mistake or a deliberate attempt to distort the facts.

The Damascus to Medina section of the Ottoman railway network was initially intended to connect Istanbul and Hejaz, the Islamic holy city of Mecca, but construction was interrupted by World War I, reaching only Medina 400 kilometers short of Mecca. The railway aimed to improve economic and political integration of Arabian provinces into the Ottoman state and facilitate military transportation. The completed Damascus to Medina section was 1,300 kilometers (810 miles) long. The railway was a significant part of the Ottoman Empire's railway network. Below is an old photo of the Hejaz railways.

First taraweeh prayer of Ramadan 1145/2024 in Makkah 🤍🕋🤲🏽🌙📿 #muslim #islam #makkah #mecca #ramadan

Malcolm X visited Gaza after his pilgrimage to Mecca! This is a painting that reflects Al-Hajj Malik el-Shabbaz

O MUSLIM ➡️ THE MASJID: ✌️ The mosques of Allah should only be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and fear none but Allah. It is right to hope that they will be among the truly guided. (Qur'an 9:18) ✌️ That light shines through houses of worship which Allah has ordered to be raised, and where His Name is mentioned. He is glorified there morning and evening by men who are not distracted - either by buying or selling - from Allah’s remembrance, or performing prayer, or paying alms-tax. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will tremble, hoping that Allah may reward them according to the best of their deeds, and increase them out of His grace. And Allah provides for whoever He wills without limit. (Qur’an 24: 36-38) ✌️ Indeed, We see you ˹O Prophet˺ turning your face towards heaven. Now We will make you turn towards a direction of prayer that will please you. So turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque in Mecca - wherever you are, turn your faces towards it. Those who were given the Scripture certainly know this to be the truth from their Lord. And Allah is never unaware of what they do. (Qur’an 2:144) ✌️ Wherever you are ˹O Prophet˺, turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque. And wherever you believers are, face towards it, so that people will have no argument against you, except the wrongdoers among them. Do not fear them; fear Me, so that I may continue to perfect My favour upon you and so you may be rightly guided. (Qur’an 2:150) ✌️ Glory be to the One Who took His servant ˹Muḥammad˺ by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing. (Qur’an 17:1) ❤️ Ibne-Abbas (RA) narrates that Rasulullah ﷺ said: Masjids are the houses of Allah on the earth. They shine to the dwellers of the sky, just as the stars shine to the dwellers of the earth. (Tabarani) ❤️ Abu Sa’id (RA) narrates Rasulullah ﷺ said: If you see a man frequenting the masjid, bear witness to his Iman. Allah ﷻ says (9:18): Only he will frequent the masjids, who believes in Allah and the Last Day. (Tirmidhi) ❤️ Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that Rasulullah ﷺ said: A Muslim that makes the masjid his abode for Salah and Dhikr, Allah ﷻ is overjoyed with him as a family is overjoyed by the return of an absent relative. (Ibne-Majah) ❤️ Abu Darda (RA) narrates: I heard Rasululllah ﷺ saying: The masjid is the house of every pious person who fears Allah ﷻ. For the one who spends most of his time in the masjid, Allah has taken upon himself to comfort him, to bestow Mercy upon him, to make the crossing over Bridge of Sirat easy for him, and to grant him His Pleasure and Paradise. (Tabarani) ❤️ Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that Rasulullah ﷺ said: The parts of the land liked most by Allah ﷻ are its masjids, and the parts of land disliked most by Allah are its markets. (Muslim) ❤️ Mu’adh ibne-Jabal (RA) narrates that Rasulullah ﷺ said: Verily, Shaytan is the wolf to man, like the wolf catches sheep; the one which is solitary and the one which stays away from the flock. So avoid staying alone in valleys. Hold firmly to Jamaat (collectiveness), to live with the common people, and to the masjid. (Musnad Ahmad) ❤️ Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that Rasulullah ﷺ said: The people who frequent the masjids are (like) their pegs. The angels are their companions. If they are absent the angels search for them, and if they become sick the angels visit them, and if they are in need the angels help them. He also said: The one, who sits in the masjid, derives at least one benefit from these three: Either he meets a Muslim brother from whom he may get benefit in terms of Deen, or he hears a word for wisdom, or receives a Mercy from Allah for which every Muslim waits for. (Musnad Ahmad) ❤️ Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that Rasulullah ﷺ said: Whoever goes to the masjid in the morning or in the evening, Allah ﷻ prepares for him a good hospitality in Paradise as often as he goes to the masjid, morning or evening. (Bukhari) ❤️ Umar ibn Khattab (RA) narrates: I heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying: Anyone who buids a masjid where the name of Allah ﷻ is remembered and (He is praised), Allah will build a palace for him in Paradise. (Ibne-Hibban) ❤️ Abu Sa’id Khudri (RA) narrates that Rasulullah ﷺ said: Whoever loves the masjid, Allah ﷻ loves him. (Majma ‘uz-Zawaid)